The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) has strongly opposed the newly passed Energy Sector Levy Bill 2025, calling on President John Dramani not to assent to it.
Paul Ofori, Head of Research at COPEC, expressed dismay over the bill’s passage and warned that it would further burden petroleum consumers and importers already reeling under economic pressure.
Speaking on ABC in the Morning, Ofori cautioned that the imposition of an additional levy on the downstream sector could erode recent gains made in stabilizing the Ghanaian cedi. “It’s not a bad thing to support the energy sector,” he acknowledged, “but are there other avenues we could have explored rather than just imposing it on the downstream level?”
Reporting from the capital, ABC News GH’s correspondent on the ground confirmed growing discontent among industry players and consumer advocates. COPEC fears that the new levy could trigger a cascading effect of price hikes, as petroleum importers pass on the cost to consumers, further tightening the cost-of-living squeeze.
Ofori called on the President to consider more balanced and innovative financing mechanisms for the energy sector crisis instead of using consumers as the default solution.
“We urge the President not to assent to this bill. It will only worsen the economic hardship for ordinary Ghanaians,” he concluded.
